Aloha to the Hendersins and thank
you very much for sending me the lovely
box of chocolates I received yesterday. I
was surprised and I appreciated it very
much. Thank you so much.
How are you all – I do hope everyone
is well. As for me, I’m okay and doing
“pretty good.”
We are now in Camp Shelby in the
deep South and away from civilization
and sorry to say, it is not as good as
Camp McCoy which is really paradise.
We don’t have the facilities here as we had in
Camp McCoy and it seems we have taken
a few backward steps in our lives. Of
course we must remember we are at war now
and should not complain. We are making
the most of it here and life still seems to be
the same in spite of all the inconveniences.
I suppose it all depends how we look at
life.
The Southeners [sic] speak with a slow
drawl and it is very interesting and
amusing. It is difficult to understand
at first but you soon get the “hang” of it
and to keep in style, you soon adopt the
drawl and become an accepted Southener [sic].
The spoken language is entirely different
from that of the North.
Of course there are many colored
people and they are interesting to watch
especially the little kiddies. We’ve never
seen many colored kiddies often in the past and when
we run into a few of them, the boys
kid them and they soon shy away.
You not only become amused by the sight of
colored people but you soon feel sorry for
them – their history and local background.
I don’t know much about them but you
can see sadness in their faces and a general
look of inferiority complex. Poor people, I’d say.
Most of the horses around here are
old and patched up and the people look as
if they are very poor. The farms look un-
productive and compare very poorly with
those in Wisconsin. The corn stalks are
slim and the farms lack the fullness and
richness that we’ve become accustomed to
see in the North. I know you’d never
want to farm in Mississippi.
This is a military secret – Richard and
George had the measles but are well now.
Mind you – measles – poor fellers. I gave them
some of the chocolates & they liked it very
much and feel I’m pretty lucky to receive
them. They both extend good wishes and
aloha to everyone.
I understand you have “powerfully”
cold weather – 30 to 38 below zero. Thats [sic]
very cold and in a way I’m glad I got
away from it. However on the hand,
I’m sorry we were ordered out. I think
Wisconsin is the best state and I really
like it. It is my home state. In spite of
the severe cold most of the boys would
rather be in Wisconsin than Mississippi.
And the nice people also – especially the
Scott Hendersins. I am not flattering
and I am expressing my true sentiments.
We’ve never met any finer people than you
and you will always be in our hearts and
be remembered and cherished as good friends.
Received a letter from Bud last week
and he says he is all right except for his tonsils
he had taken out. I suppose he is happily
married and his wife thinks the world of
him which is as it should be. Hope them
all the luck and happiness in the world.
Will close with best and sincere wishes
to everyone at home and hope to hear from
you soon.
Sincerely yours
Francis
